If you would like to send us an article, contact the editor Micaela Berce

IN BRIEF - Kenya, Belgium partner to revamp the fishing industry

KENYAFriday, November 23, 2012

Kenya is taking big steps to improve the fishing industry. "Our government is making great efforts to improve the fisheries sector to boost to our economy," the marine and coastal fisheries principal officer John Wanyoike said on 21 Nov.

The world celebrated the World Fisheries day on 22 Nov. Fisheries Ministry and Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research institute said the government intends to bolster the fishing industry to make it sustainable and spur the country's economic growth.

FUJAIRAH - Fish prices in Fujairah have jumped by a quarter in two years because of strict fishing laws and an influx of foreign supplies, locals say.

“We are not catching the same amount of fish that we used to before the new fishing regulations, and this has affected the local market and us,” said fisherman Khilfan Hasan, 42. “The market is full with Omani fish.

“They don’t have the same regulations that we have, therefore they control the market.”

Mohammed Ali, 31, another fisherman, said: “Market vendors buy fish in bulk at low price and resell at higher prices, so they control the process, which is becoming a serious issue.

Sri Lanka on Tuesday 3rd of March 2015 accepted India’s request to revive talks between the fishing communities of the two countries, days ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first visit to the country.

Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Y K Sinha on Tuesday met Fisheries Minister Joseph Michael Perera and asked for the revival of talks between the representatives of the fishing communities.

“In talks today the Indian High Commissioner requested that talks be started around 12th of this month ahead of Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Colombo”, Mr. Perera said.

The Government has cancelled fishing licences given to eight Chinese companies to fish in international waters under the Sri Lankan flag, after they were found to have violated the agreements, Fisheries Minister Joseph Michael Perera said yesterday. ”The main reason was that they have violated the terms and conditions we have agreed upon in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by both parties,” the Minister said.

He said the Chinese companies had failed to provide information to the ministry about the catch and types of fishing methods they were using, thereby violating the agreement. The move came as Sri Lanka was taking steps to convince the European Union that adequate steps were being taken to avoid Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing methods. This is intended to get the ban imposed on fish exports from Sri Lanka to EU markets lifted.

Vietnam's state-run radio VOV, MARD said on Monday that the United States remained the largest importer of Vietnamese seafood in two-month period, consuming 17.74 percent of Vietnamese exported seafood.

Concerns about the deteriorating water quality at Macquarie Harbour on Tasmania's west coast have been raised in state and federal parliament.

Last night (MAR 2 2015) the Tasmanian Greens senator Peter Whish-Wilson tabled a confidential draft report from a body that includes the salmon industry, Tasmanian Government, CSIRO and the Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS).

LOUISBOURG — A local seafood company is investing CAD 3 million this year to modernize and expand its operations, conduct applied research and demonstrate its belief that the industry’s future is bright.

One-third of the funding will go into equipping a new lobster pound in the former National Sea Products building that the company recently purchased.

“Our weather is changing so much,” said Dannie Hansen, a senior team leader with Louisbourg Seafoods. “The water is getting warmer and it’s so uncertain, and the demand for high-quality product in our lobsters, and the Nova Scotia high-quality brand, requires the right type of housing for that species.

An excellent visitor turnout is expected at Skipper Expo Int. Galway 2015, which gets underway later this week on 6 and 7 March 2015 at the Galway Bay Hotel, Ireland.

Sponsored by BIM, this year’s 11th anniversary Galway event will be boosted by its biggest exhibitor attendance ever with over 110 companies participating. Major attractions will include boat displays, pool demos and the superb exhibitors’ seafood buffet. Exhibitors will cover every area of the fishing industry equipment and services sector.

Sharon Boyle of show organiser Mara Media said: “This is going to be our biggest expo yet and I would like to express our huge thanks to our support sponsors and exhibitors. The huge array of stands means there will be something to interest everyone. It will be a great place to do business and see at first hand the latest innovations and developments. The expo is also forms an excellent backdrop for socialising and networking. We look forward to welcoming you!”

Skipper Expo Int. Galway 2015 will be held on 6 and 7 March 2015 at the Galway Bay Hotel, Galway. Opening times, 10am to 5pm on Friday 6 March, and 10am to 4pm on Saturday 7 March. Entry is free.

Commissioner seeks to strengthen EU-Morocco fisheries partnership European Union
Last week the European Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries visited the third edition of the Salon Halieutis, organised under the high patronage of King Mohamed VI, to underline the importance of the fisheries partnership and cooperation between the EU and Morocco.